Sailing HideAway Com-Pac 23

RV Awning Repair Using Tear-Aid Vinyl Repair Tape

2026-09-18T18:27:07.841-04:00

It has come to my attention that many “how to” videos tend to feature someone fully knowledgeable, confident and always successful on the first attempt to complete the project with no drama.

This isn’t one of them. I hope you find it useful.

The videos fail to exhibit the trips down the ladder to find a forgotten tool, essential missing project piece or band aide where upon, gaining the workspace after reaching the highest wobbling ladder step to realize something important was again left on the garage workbench.

"Tear-Aid Vinyl Repair" comes in a kit or 3"x5' roll. The kit includes several small patches and one large. I opted for the roll to be prepared for any size repair. It is relatively easy to use and the instructions are first rate. My roll only had two alcohol pads to clean the site. 70% Rubbing alcohol available at a pharmacy or grocery store is the same strength.

The top of the awning is protected by skin to slow down sun rot. The awning fabric, vinyl, was not damaged. The sun protection is brittle and not flat on the roll, if that makes sense. The was to prevent the sun fabric from further damage.

The product is on the expensive side of life. Time and sun will tell the tale.

“RV Awning Repair” is a story about my experiences working with the product that you may find useful.

The video and story are neither a condemnation nor recommendation.

RV Window Insulation - Who Needs It?

2026-07-27T22:02:22.337-04:00

We are on our way pulling a Coachman Apex Ultra Lite 215RBK behind a F150 from Tampa to Cape Canaveral for a rocket launch and some cool Atlantic beach time.

Its mid-July – in Florida. The truck thermometer locked at 96 degrees. Nobody could accuse us of excessive sanity.

We poked along I4 closer to double the nickel than the usual 60 mph. All gauges remained within limits and stops were longer than planned.

Measured by a naked hand, the trailer tires were above body temperature. Hubs more, but not overly so. The truck tires were noticeably cooler. Our rest stop plan included lunch under a shaded picnic table however, both of us preferred a slow Florida walk to the idling AC truck. (Never walk fast during the Florida summer heat)

We arrived at our destination just after sun stole the shade. The effort of set up tired us to the point of Heat Exhaustion that plagued the both of us the entire 3 day “vacation”. The heat/ humidity overwhelmed our three quarters of a century old bodies.

Sailing Hideaway You Tube Video

Something Must Be Done.

First The obvious action: Don’t camp in Florida during the summer.

and second;

Don’t believe the myth that because Atlantic Ocean is colder than the Gulf of Mexico, therefore the afternoon sea breeze would keep us comfortable. The difference in water temperature from the west coast at Clearwater Beach was one degree.

Although You are not going to beat the Florida summer heat/humidity you may be able to mitigate the roar of AC by insulating your RV windows and maybe some cabinetry. Letting the awning out for shade is assumed.

A reasonable daytime interior goal of 80 degrees and a nighttime goal of upper 70s is acceptable when augmented by an oscillating fan to encourage cool air movement.

Window insulation- Is it worth the time and cost?

The goal of window insulation is to reduce the RV temperature during travel so the air conditioner can cool the living space quickly and efficiently upon arrival.

There are no monetary savings in this- the savings are relative comfort and maybe avoiding hospitalization for heat exhaustion.

Our Highest recorded RV interior temperature in full sun with no window insulation, awning, or AC is 107 degrees. Camper stored on concrete driveway

Normal temperature on west coastal FL – Tampa Bay area for July is 92/79 with 76% humidity yields a Heat Index of 108-110

TESTING

The tests were conducted with and without direct sun, closed windows with factory supplied curtains, and with and without insulation.

Results of tests vary – a 101.3 outside sun temperature yielded 96.6 inside without insulation or AC.

The one cloudy day partially insulated in sun 97.2 yielded inside temperature of 75.9 a difference of 21.3 degrees

Exterior temperature 102 degrees -- interior temperature full insulation 96.6 = 5.4 degrees difference. Estimated temperature variance using the high 107 degrees – 96.6=10.4 degrees no ac or awning

The hottest area in the RV is the bathroom shower skylight where temperatures of 100 to 103 degrees were recorded. Dropping to 83 with insulation.

A close second is the large front bedroom window, not insulated 102.2 dropping to 84 with insulation.

Full insulation in sunny weather, no shade, NO awning is 5-10 degrees cooler than before insulation

Conclusion:

The goal of window insulation is to reduce the RV temperature during travel so the air conditioner can cool the living space quickly and efficiently upon arrival.

So, yes, it’s worth the money and effort to insulate the windows.

However, the easiest solution is- Just don’t camp in florida during summer.

I cancelled the remaining reservations.

I regret it already – but – it’s just too hot!

PROJECT TOOLS

Measuring tape

Good pair of scissors

Four-foot drywall square

Marker

High quality mask

Painters/duct tape for edges

Velcro strips for shower roof light

Lid for rounding corners if desired

Always wear a mask when cutting the insulation, small particles are released during cutting process. Be sure to seal the edges with tape for the same reason.

Always seal the edges of the insulation with tape to prevent pieces of the fiber insulation fall out.

Assuming you have the necessary tools, the material available at any home center costs about 40-$50. Depending on how many mistakes you make.

Standard AC for normal use with 215RBK – Apex Coachman, 13,500 BTU

For travel in the south, get the optional severe weather unit with 15,000BTU

Comments Welcomed

2026-05-23T21:18:51.839-04:00

You know us as the Sailing Hideaways (SV HideAway) that ran hard aground on the age/health reef we all must face eventually. We found a Coachman 215RBK in need of new owners. After all, how much different can they be?

This is not so much a "How To" video as a "Here's What to Expect". "Course, my water heater on the HideAway was a solar powered bag hanging from the jib halyard, fairly similar after a brew or two. Right?

How to Paint Confidence - You've seen the videos --Now What??

2025-11-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

Gripped by the Fear of Painting, or rather the dreaded Painting Panic?

You’ve witnessed gallons of expensive paint, expertly applied to canvas, without of fear of failure, and with stunning result by, schooled artists.

What now? Courage and optimism, can only carry you to the moment when you realize the blocked in stage, is dry.

Painting Panic has arrived.

Don’t’ worry, so much, about ruining your art – at some time or another, you will anyway, why stress over it now?

Nobody is born with painting software preinstalled.

The act of painting, is less important than learning how much paint is required on your paint application device, to render reasonable success.

Relax and enjoy the process!

Stop, when you want to, or if you do throw something.

Now, take your brush out of your coffee, and go have some more fun today!

So, how long did it take you to learn to ride a bicycle?

A Tip Quickie

2025-08-07T09:33:00.000-04:00

It wasn't so much the fear of messing up as mending the unforced error that produced the coward's way out of trying something risky.

Will it work with oil? Nope. Water color? Nope. Wet acrylics? Nope. (Don't ask)

I knew I'd find a use for that odd glass eventually. The difference this time was that revelation came before the trash.

Sailing HideAway: The Pink Thief - Video!

2025-07-29T18:07:00.000-04:00

Driving along a county road in western Oklahoma, chance glance to my right offered a painting possibility. A late afternoon blue sky thunder storm in the distance approaching a farm house and silo across a field. The narrow road and traffic prevented a photo stop.

The rain, was pink.

The trouble began with a texture experiment gone wrong (see my video Talking Texture). Attempts to salvage the new canvas created small holes and worse, not all the texture could be removed.

Repairing the original sin required much thicker than normal texture spread across entire canvas. Blending acrylic paint on the rough surface to create a believable thunder storm was unlikely.

Not much of an excuse, but the best I can come up with at the moment.

After committing 12 gigabits of memory, my own and the computer’s, and four months effort to the project a question arose.

Why continue investing paint and time like I could afford both hoping for a pretty good outcome when I could be making new, more creative mistakes on another painting that doesn’t require texture AND a thunderstorm?

I came to realize this painting, however memorable the event, is a THIEF stealing my time and my Art Dollars!

Don’t let this happen to you, my friends! Act now!

Even a perfect painting is never done – Besides, It will look better in the morning

Holes in Your Canvas? Now What? Sailing HideAway

2025-04-18T16:38:00.001-04:00

A while ago I published a wildly unpopular video, “Talking Texture Testing”, where I demonstrated several unconventional texturing products for potential use with oil or acrylic fine art paintings.

One of those was a type of caulking that unexpectedly turned into a permanent, hard, glue like substance. It was an artistic failure of the highest kind.

I learned that the caulking/glue holding factor was excellent. So much so that holes appeared in the stretched canvas during removal attempts. I resorted to using a razor knife to carve down the mountain peaks. The result was a hill country canvas on the great plains with small lakes scattered about, no doubt caused by glaciers.

My new video “Holes in Your Canvas? Now What?” demonstrates one solution.

Can you see the damage? Does it matter to my acrylic painting?

Talking Texture Testing Today

2025-03-19T14:22:00.008-04:00

In “Talking Texture Testing” we explore unconventional texturizing products applied canvas and hardboard, some were successful, others not at all.

My project, more than two decades ago, was to build storm shutters for our windows.

Of course, as a sailor, the shutters had to include sailboats, but not just any; these were large cutter rigged gaffers, some 80 feet on deck sailing the Gulf of Mexico. The boats were built using Masonite panels cut from my drawings. Several works of possible artistic quality were made from the waste cutouts. “Marker 6 at Midnight” is one of them. So, my story goes: I’d forgotten to seal the exterior house paint cans properly thus, over the months, nay, years; OK, decades- their contents became a five pound hockey pucks the size of dinner plates. One, however, was half full of slurry and soft paint chunks that showed promise for art work texture. The works have survived these twenty plus years with no attention paid to extend their existence, leading me to conclude that soft acrylic exterior house paint the consistency of a malted milk with paint chunks, a good texture producing brew. Be aware though, the cure time is rather long. In our next video, we attempt to repair canvas damaged in this video by that darn roof sealer! – Sailing Hideaway

Sailing HideAway - Here, Hold My Brush!

2025-02-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

Tired of chasing your brushes around on the floor? My video, “Sailing HideAway - Here, Hold My Brush!” is for you. Made from found materials most pack rats would have stored somewhere, this easel mounted brush holder is easy to make and can be used on a table too! Such a deal! Now, if I can just unglue my fingers, I’ll go paint something.

2025-02-18T17:26:00.001-05:00

Early Researchers, after moments of careful study, have determined there are three types of Traditional Easel Painters: Stand up, Sit down, and both.

Most artists, after spending many precious Art Dollars, secretly wish to modify their new easel, but are hesitant to make changes to it. After all, why would you risk messing up this, professionally designed easel by drilling holes in it and attaching stuff to it that, by their absence, must not be required to achieve the Quality Painting Experience we all seek?

After a while though, the Artist in Making, tires of picking up floor-stored art supplies and living in constant fear of stepping on an open paint tube. Besides the easel is no longer new, likely paint splattered anyway, and the fine oak floor thus far has escaped desecration.

Thus, the creative wheels turn to making the Art Easel the best it can be, or at least easier on the bending structures of the average human.

Here’s what I did to mine.

2025-02-06T19:30:00.001-05:00

If you are a thirsty traveler this is your palm. Its leaves store water and the seeds apparently are edible if you're hungry enough

A Road You Should Take

2025-02-06T16:59:00.000-05:00

It's not about how fast you can traverse this road - It's about slowing down, listening and watching the world around you. So pull up a log or comfy rock and be a part of the scene

Peek - A- Boo Hoodoo

2025-02-05T17:31:00.004-05:00

Have you ever thought you saw something out of the corner of your eye but dismissed it? In Bryce Canyon, you may have glimpsed a very rare Peek-a-Boo Hoodoo. They like to play just at the edge of your vision. Walk slowly, carry a fast camera, and embrace a sense of playful wonder. You will find them.

Do Fish Swim In the Air?

2025-02-05T17:23:00.001-05:00

Walking along a Blue Springs trail I saw an alligator in flight. Now, grant you, it wasn't a large alligator-maybe five feet or so in length, still, a flying alligator is not something you see in the city. An embarrassing few moments later, my alleged brain determined alligators can't fly, this one in particular was swimming in a crystal clear spring out flow stream. Occasionally, you may see a fish do the same thing

Blue Springs State Park

Does Your Art Float?

2025-01-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

Framing doesn't have to be expensive if you let your creative eye take the lead. In this video, we show you how to transform two deep frames, originally used to display sales performance awards, into high-quality art floater frames. These awards, deemed worthless by their retiring recipient, were headed for the trash—nevertheless with a little vision, they became something extraordinary.

Part of the Artist’s life is about reimagining and repurposing, proving that beauty can be created from the unexpected.

Another example comes from the era of sizzling steaks served on metal platters set on wooden trays at upscale restaurants. When this trend faded, we salvaged a dozen wooden trays with recessed areas meant for the platters. By refinishing the wood and painting miniature landscapes or seascapes in the recessed areas using acrylics, we gave these discarded items a new life.

Jack Pine Garage: The Real Story

2025-01-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station

I’ve been told, by someone who knows, that paintings should have a story to tell. Well, here’s mine. This is the story of the Jack Pine Garage - The Real Story

In the mid third of the 20^th century a vacation trip was to be endured traveling along on county or state highways of wildly varying construct and maintenance schedules. Bouncing along in a car equipped with natural air conditioning, usually following a slow moving truck or farm vehicle for millions of miles, while listening to hog futures on your dash mounted, static filled AM radio that was mostly drowned out by squabbling siblings in the back seat. Along the way gasoline stations, road side motor inns, and odd attractions just off the main highway supported the small towns.

The roadside gas stations offered some degree of repair, enough, usually, to get you back on the road with proper amounts of air, oil and water in the proper places along with clean a windshield. Soda Pop, ice, snacks, candy and local gossip were plentiful.

The Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station assigned their youngest son to wash your buggy windows, headlights and grille while an older sibling will fill your front bumper mounted water bag and check your tire pressures.

The eldest will open your hood to make sure your radiator wasn’t about to explode and that the engine had not deposited an unhealthy amount of oil on the gravel road leading into town.

True, spilled oil does reduce road dust, but that’s Henry’s job and it’s impolite to horn in on his source of income.

All the while the owner of the Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station considered it his civic duty to inform you of local dinosaurs, two headed snakes and the World’s Largest Pheasant, (located at the end of the towns’ grass aero plane field). All attractions not to be missed. Then lunch at Mable’s Fine Restaurant, right next to the fire station- You can’t miss it, but if you do, be sure to stop by Colleen’s Collectables Gifts. You’ll see it on your left as you turn around.

The Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station

The Jack Pine Garage was not officially named after the family. A shocking departure from the norm, rather, the concrete block building occupies land that is greatly favored by straight and tall Jack Pine trees, many of which gossip over the goings on at the Jack Pine Garage. (The actual name of which was too big to paint on the building).

Now, Jack, probably not his real name, knew quite few things about cars and mechanical inventions. Since Jack figured everyone knew where the Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station could be found, (Highway 15, Half mile or so from town on the right, just before the intersection of State Highway 281). Thus, paid advertising was not required in any form including the sign on his building. Consequently, it was his hand that painted the building’s sign, proving Jack was not as handy with a paint brush as he were a wrench.

Time does not stop long in such places and before you know it the interstate came through and somebody invented shopping malls and corporations built shiny new gas stations where you could get most anything and not be bothered to go out of your way, of course- at a price inflated higher than your tires. It didn’t help matters that the new interstate turn off to State Highway 281, the one with the fancy gas stations, removed much of Jack’s income possibilities.

You could drive fast on the interstate without much fear of finding a raccoon stuck under your transmission or a deer in your windshield, however the larger pot holes on the washboard county roads had provided a self-regulating speed control and a major source of income to the Jack Pine Garage and Friendly Service Station.

The new road, asphalt, of course, used a more modern method of speed control consisting of a white car with two big red cherries on the roof and large emblems on both front doors. The car’s inhabitants of which were happy to invite you to reduce the local citizens’ tax burden.

It got so that the excuse of the new road being so smooth, as it was, the automobile operator could not accurately judge his speed. Such a complaint would induce great amusement for the occupants of the car with the cherries and an expensive piece of paper along with an invitation to visit the County Judge next week, when you have the time, naturally.

Otto dropped by some time ago now. Said his ole Hudson was overheating again. “That’s what they’re supposed to do” replied Jack, thinking about the stack of dusty suspension parts stored along the back wall of the garage and the check for which that should have been mailed yesterday.

Jack flushed the radiator, patched the offending pinhole leak and replaced the questionable radiator cap with a shiny new one guaranteed to last a good long while. Otto decided he didn’t like the car that much anyway, and expressed the same interest in settling the bill, leaving Jack apprehensive about fixing the garage door, broken by an errant children, during the Hudson’s repair.

As business fell off, the family drifted from their homestead leaving Otto’s old car in the garage. If you’re interested, Otto’s car is still there, with a repaired radiator, and runs pretty good, I’m told. Be warned though - the new owners are well aware of its worth, so don’t hold your breath.

All characters, locations, and subjects are fictitious. Any relation to reality is unintentional. In case you’re wondering - “Jack Pine” refers to a type of pine tree (Pinus banksiana).

Where Dreams Sank - Hurricane Milton

2025-01-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

You may remember the opening scene on Sailing Hideaway You Tube video Finding the Other Door

We Parked on secluded, pristine beach on a perfect sunny day launching borrowed kayaks on Boca Ciega Bay.

I guess we knew all along, it was just a matter of time, before luck raises anchor.

I hesitated to make a video about Hurricanes Milton, Helene and TS Debby.

It didn’t seem appropriate to make a video of a wrecked marina (Hideaway’s home port for many years) when thousands of homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed by these storms.

Then I remembered that the main purpose of the Sailing Hideaway You Tube channel is to create a record of our sailing life. The good times have always been entangled with the bad - the successes with the mistakes.

When life made us landlubbers, we discovered the most difficult obstacle to overcome when starting something you don’t know much about is the embarrassment of looking foolish .

Like jumping into a cold lake- After you do it a few times it’s not so bad.

So with that in mind, the only thing worse is not trying.

Hideaway has come about – we have no idea where we a headed or how to get there –

Come follow us - it should be interesting –

Paint Wasters Society: Rediscovering Water Colors

2024-08-01T14:34:00.001-04:00

Splashing Back to Water Colors

I’ve been away from water color for the better part of 15 years. Lately, my wife has taken up the sport reminding me of the joys of transparent water color.

The effort would be easier had I’d remembered that, while they are cousins, water colors and acrylics have different personalities.

Most Survived

In my water color days I acquired a startling number of paint in tubes of various sizes and expense. I hadn’t fully realized, to the glee of various suppliers, that all colors come from the primaries.

Tubes were stored in a fishing tackle box and lost in a closet. Could they still be useable after all years? Large tubes and small, most were reasonably soft to the squeeze, although, some of the smaller were rocks.

Surgery was necessary and the rehydration mostly successful. "Professional" grade water color grade paper not so much. At least, that’s my excuse.

I've added hot melt glue lines to corral the colors

As most artist do, I’d acquired several pallets as my need for space increased. I found the best one only after refurbishing the others. (Where did the drywall mud particles come from and why?)

Paint soaked into the paper- No rescue

I practiced on substandard papers for a while. Frustration the only result.

Where was the sublime joy of color flowing from my brush in a perfect line, dab, or arch? The effortless perfect stain on the paper – just enough - not too much. What happened to the transparency you hear so much about?

Searching for answers I came across dozens my early paintings buried in the dregs of the Failure Box.

There's a keeper on the flip side

I’d just received two expensive sets of water color brushes at a low price. Eager to try them, I sacrificed one of my unhappy accident paintings to odd lines, circles and dabs.

What fun! No pressure! No cost and no worries about failing. After all, the paintings were ready for trash bin anyway. Occasionally, you may rescue a memory.

Bingo!

I read somewhere that paintings of any kind should be viewed from six feet away and hung at standing height. In my case, twenty feet seems to work pretty well. Or at least in a darkened room during a lightning storm.

Sailboats On Beach- Original Water Color Paperweight
by SailingHideAway

Sailboats On Beach- Original Water Color Paperweight

by SailingHideAway

The Art of Being Unprepared

2024-05-22T15:28:00.001-04:00

We are approaching the sweaty, sticky days of summer. The cooling breezes of winter left with the snowbirds weeks ago. It's still a nasty hot morning, though the ant-under-a-magnifying-glass sensation doesn’t start until the sun clears the tree line. It's time for a quick sketching walk in the woods by the lake.

My sketch bag is an old cloth emergency first aid kit acquired from a drug store. It’s red with a large white cross on the front, double zippered with a handle, and my added belt clip.

It contains two sketchbooks. The larger, a gift, performs poorly with watercolors but is passable for ink, pencil, and charcoal. The other, smaller version is made for both. There’s also a watercolor field kit and old film container filled with extra water, an assortment of pencils, brushes, cut-up credit cards, paper towels… you know the rest.

People tend to make way for me when met on a trail. Seeing an old man with a red emergency kit with a big white cross on it, they tend to step aside, not wanting, I surmise, to be the one to apply first aid when the geezer stumbles and can’t get up. They are right – sketching is essential to my well-being, not to mention what’s left of my older right brain.

With my bag on my hip, I found a little wooden bridge among the pines and palms, arching over a creek leading to a small lake. I sat on a nearby warped wood bench, the one with short, uneven legs buried in the sand. I opened my kit to find only one sketchbook and one indelible ink pen. No sanity saving erasable pencil. Forgetting to check my bag ruined the entire known universe!

But it didn’t.

Instead, it freed me to make mistakes. After all, I’d already made the creation of good art unlikely. With no expectations, I had a great time.

Isn’t that what it’s all about?

The Paint Wasters Society of Dog Moon Bay

White Rose Heart Paperweight
by MACmedia

A Sailing Hideaway Zazzle Store

Of Strawberries and Butterflies

2024-05-08T13:03:00.005-04:00

From the Traveling Hideaways- Tales of Our Trails Blog

Black Plastic Netting

Our elevated strawberry patch has become a haven for strawberry enthusiasts of both wing and paw varieties. To deter unwanted visitors we draped half-inch soft black plastic webbing, supported by bamboo stalks with their small branches still attached to admit only honey bees for pollination.

We Didn't Expect the Butterflies

During a recent stroll by the patch, I observed six or eight butterflies frenetically fluttering around one of the nets attempting to rescue a trapped comrade. These native Florida butterflies have a two-inch wingspan with tan wings and colorful decoration. I do not recall their name, and my cameras were inside enjoying the air conditioning.

Without hesitation, I joined the rescue mission.

At first the butterflies wouldn't let me help, constantly getting in the way of my effort to untangle the flimsy net without injuring the victim. Encircled by the butterfly brigade, I sensed their determination, (is that possible?). Some briefly rested their heads on the trapped butterfly’s, perhaps offering silent comfort.

As the hot sun weakened the captive, hope dwindled. They wouldn't give up, those butterfly friends, so neither would I. My clumsy fingers fumbled over the net, frantic to find a solution. In a moment of frustration, I reached for my knife, only to drop it. Stooping to retrieve it, I inadvertently freed the entangled butterfly. A swarm of butterflies surrounded their freed companion, and as strength returned, they departed in a flurry of wings.

But they returned.

As I tore down the remaining nets, the butterflies reappeared, swirling around me for some time in a vibrant display of color and energy before departing once more.

Interpret this as you will, but there will be no more netting in our garden and I have a new appreciation of butterflies. And, dare I say it? Some butterfly friends!

Lighthouse Spiral Staircase Poster
by SailingHideAway

Jaguar Pick-Up Truck -The Latest News

2024-02-06T15:49:00.000-05:00

Hot on the trail of a tow vehicle for our soon to be purchased travel trailer, we were checking out a lead at our local Jaguar store. We didn’t know if there was such a truck, but if there were, a Jag pickup would be worth checking out.

We sheepishly snuck our old land yacht into the lot and parked next to a large Land Rover. Later we learned that the custom built Land Rover had a window sticker of $250,000. We were extra careful with our doors.

We entered a building full of white vehicles with their lights left on. The ultra-modern building was staffed by people ultra-eager to please – coffee, tea, doughnut -Sir?

The show room contained eight Land Rovers and one gorgeous Ferrari two-seater sports car. No Jaguars in sight, let alone an RV tow vehicle.

I asked our assigned representative if he had a Jaguar pick ‘em up truck in stock. His response was slow to develop, not knowing, I suppose, if I really had any money or if I did and was joking.

He told us it was hard to get Jaguars to stock because they all are special order and production was nearly sold out. Only that very morning he had taken orders for three, he declared. Hard to imagine I know, but the entire line of Jaguars will be electric next year. Get your 2024 order in soon.

We studied each other for a short while until he remembered that he did, indeed, have a “pick ‘em up truck” in the back lot. Sure enough, surrounded by a Bentley Coupe, a Lamborghini, a new Corvette, and a Ford Shelby stood a custom Jaguar RV Tow Vehicle, cleverly disguised as black metallic Ford F150 Lariat.

They hemmed, we hawed. They agreed to fix a few things. We agreed that our land yacht was a bit sorry after the 9,000 mile road trip last year. It needed tires, only one of the power windows worked and if you drove it awhile it threw the code-$$$.

Oddly, I haven’t found the button to uncloak the Jag, but you can hear him roar when the blower kicks in…..

Custom Jag RV Tow Vehicle- Cloaking on.

https://www.zazzle.com/z/aw7l9zdy?rf=238787816549313732

SCAM ALERT UPDATE

2023-09-20T15:21:00.012-04:00

SV Hideaway all dressed up

In this latest attempt to steal, The scammers change their pitch.

Earlier scams were from one person, always out of state, and unable to see the HideAway but willing to make the purchase for a friend who lives near me. The latest is an appeal to your softer side with health and work issues that prevents calling or actually seeing the the product.

There is no mention of the item they wish to "purchase". And I see the bribe to remove the listing has increased from $100 to $500. Inflation, I suppose.

This latest rendition leaves out the rather sticky "mover" whom I am supposed to pay with money supplied by either David or Lynda using my personal check. (Ain't gonna happen, Bub!)

These letters are templates.

The initial email was from "Lynda", but the response was from her good friend and accomplice, "David"

I've bolded the tells.

Thanks for your response. The first email was sent by my friend that helped me to make an inquiry since I am new to purchasing things online. Please note that I suffer from hearing loss so I primarily communicate via email and I will greatly appreciate your understanding of that.

Sadly, I am unable to meet with you before purchase because I work really long weeks, but I am fine with the price and condition as shown on the ad. I will issue you a check and arrange pickup after you receive the payment and it clears, so please let me know the following details as soon as possible.

Full name :

Physical Address (Only, not po box):

City, State, Zip:

Your cell Phone Number:

Deal Price:

As soon as this is provided, payment will be overnight to you through FedEx next day delivery and I will let you know the tracking number of the package. I will also add an additional $500 for keeping other buyers off till my check gets to you, also please delete the posting or mark as sold.

Thanks, and I hope we handle this in good faith while waiting to hearing from you (?!)

If you have any doubt, just reply without providing personal information, but triple the "Deal Price" to see what happens.

If you're Interested in purchasing

the SV Hideaway I encourage you to check out our Sailing Hideaway YouTube channel to get a feel of how the boat sails and see the various upgrades and maintenance. youtube.com/@SVHideAwaySailingHideAway

Please contact me if you have questions or would like to set an appointment to see the Hideaway in person.

A Night On Moon Dog Bay

2023-09-11T16:29:00.079-04:00

Dark Tropics original art by Matt M Maloy

The Sailing Hideaway crew had a long day of tall winds and strong waves. In darkening waters, we needed to make port, and soon.

I recalled an old beach bar/grill just off the ICW in the back-waters of paradise on a forgotten spit of land. The recollection suggested that reaching it by sea was less perilous than navigating the neglected sand road, notorious for trapping vehicles during King Tides- effectively deterring all but the most dedicated patrons from visiting Moon Dog Spit.
Encouraged more by the tide than wind, the Hideaway glided to the maintenance deficient dock. Nudging a piling sent a dock rat scurrying, with great enthusiasm, along the old grey wood pier.
Under my sloppily dropped main and storm jib, deck work became a challenge that I sorely didn't need. I threw on a couple of springs and, side stepping a sleeping sailor whose right arm dangled off the finger pier as if shark fishing, made my way to the secret back door - the one with the “Keep Out” sign painted on it. The lock was broken. An obvious invitation. I did not resist.
The concrete block box of a building preceded building codes
And looked it. At first, the swayed roof appeared to be what you would find on an Irish cottage, but the 'thatch' was fallen palm fronds deposited by two palms planted too close to the faded yellow paint peeling building. The rest of the roof consisted of corrugated metal panels, most of which were in various stages of rusty decline with a few fasteners furtively holding them on to the rafters.
The structure hadn’t seen a paint brush in decades yet sported a variety of textures and colors, blues, orange, pink all once bright Florida Gaudy style, converted now to a mass of persistent peeling paint. Its street front consisted of a large picture window that had not been washed during this millennium. The faded sign advertised something about mooning a dog. The ominous entrance was surrounded by weathered wooden trim adjacent to haphazardly applied stucco. Loose fragments of stucco adorned the worn-out light blue courtyard floor featuring paintings of orange and green sea creatures. The uneven concrete floor shone from a puddle of viscus yellow liquid oozing from a moldy green pipe that curled around the side of the building into a pile of odorous debris. Unshielded from the sun, the patio courtyard provided a thirsty income stream for the establishment.

I pushed my shoulder

Against the grungy door, which popped open. I grabbed it to slow its speed. Spreading late afternoon sun into a dark bar is never a good idea. Glaring behind the bar the heavy-set Bar Keep wore a sullied green apron with pink flamingoes on it and a long faded discolored red muscle shirt. The kind with large holes to be inhabited by tattooed arms which real athletes might wear, but never would. Sweat beaded from his bald head spattering onto the abused wooden bar.
The Bar Keep gave an unfavorable look at my order of a large iced tea instead of my usual scotch. Neat. I’d given booze the boot a while ago, I started to explain….. He handed my iced tea wiping the sweat off the bar with what once was a white dish towel sometime in the last half century, more recently employed to clean iced tea glasses. He pointed towards the front patio to prevent a smelly, tea-drinking sailor from hanging out in his grill/bar.

A well-dressed customer…

As I walked towards the patio past a well-dressed customer sitting at a nearby table trying, unsuccessfully, to liberate his artificial silverware from the table’s cheap plastic cover with white and reddish orange squares. He’d be better off to leave them, I thought, remembering my greeting from the hairy, four footed dock hand I’d made a brief acquaintance with earlier.

I set my iced tea on the metal patio table…

The one that featured an open weaved lattice designed for spilling drinks on your pants in embarrassing places. You know the table, cheap, with chipped Fuchsia and Turquoise paint and three legs of various lengths. A bright yellow chair of similar construction and comfort leaned against the wall. An over flowing ash tray with a still burning cigarette addressed the edge of the table. I picked up the cig and took a long drag. Memories.

I didn’t mind the rejection …

I was, after all, there to conduct business with a new client. I was packing my 70D slung over my shoulder in a quick draw sling at my hip set to AV- RAW automatic high speed shooting with 256 gig extreme chip and a variable density filter. You never know who or what you will encounter in a place like this.

The iced tea didn’t last long…

I walked into the bar. At my questioning look, the Keep gestured towards the darker end of the bar to a large plastic palm tree with fronds lit with green Christmas lights, its trunk with yellow. The yellow ones were flashing. I walked down the narrow hall, devoid of substantial lighting, to find a few parts of the Head’s door attached to its frame by only the top hinge – The rest of the door was scattered on the floor, with one door chunk sticking through the wall. A disagreement on line position the most likely catalyst.

You can either clean a room or screw in a dim light bulb to hide its sins

This establishment chose the latter. The grimy walls of the Head were covered with tactless jokes, written in several languages, using a variety of writing instruments. None were engaging.

A small sink sat below a discolored mirror next to a long galvanized metal trough filled with ice cubes that screwed to the wall at an appropriate height. Two patrons attired in Yacht Club regalia stood facing the wall in animated conversation did not seem notice the trough was dripping on their boat shoes.

A much younger version of a man sat on a stool in a grey corner of the head. His garb consisted of the socially required filthy tee shirt, raggedy shorts and one flip flop. He looked like someone who did not pay close attention during high school. The Ice Trough Guard didn’t look up at my entrance, preferring instead to concentrate on his supper balancing on his lap.

My business completed, I made my way back to the faux art patio, breaking the remains of the door off its last hinge as I passed by.

I sat down, at my self-bailing table,

Stabilized by a crushed beer can and a piece of broken stucco. I relit the cig stub, a cough immediately ensued sending a smoke signal into the sky to remind me why I stopped that sin. I snubbed it out, spilling the overflowing ash tray through the open webbed lattice table on to my shorts. The darkening night my salvation from imagined new client disgrace.

My Client!

I glanced up from my crimes to find her shinning in all her bright glory! And she’d brought a friend, whom admittedly, was somewhat duller. The curse of forgetfulness left me without my tripod. I leaned against the decaying stucco wall and fired off 14 shots free hand, adjusting my variable density filter twice before they vanished like the foggy memory of a recent hurricane.

It was a good night at the Two Moon Saloon.

At the Two Moon Saloon on Moon Dog Bay Photo by Matt M Maloy

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Colorful Sailboats On Beach Desk Mat
by SailingHideAway
Imagine the feeling of being on a beach, the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Now imagine having that feeling every time you look at your desk

Scam the Scammers!

2023-09-08T17:48:00.007-04:00

See Sailing Hideaway video "Selling Hideaway Oh No!

See our ad on Boat Trader search Com Pac 23 with the above photo

As most of you know, we selling our beloved Com Pac 23, the SV Hideaway.

We’ve sailed this course six times over four decades. It’s never easy.

It should be a straight forward process:

Remove all the stuff you kept on board because you might need it someday.

Build a shed to store it all in for use on the next boat.

Take care of those annoying little projects you’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t, because you’d rather go sailing.

Fix whatever needs to be fixed. (A day sailor never uses navigation lights, but a new owner will need them.)

Paint what needs to be painted.

Clean what needs to be cleaned.

Do it again.

Take some photos, make a video, place the advertisements.

Answer questions, show the boat, and fill out the paperwork.

Watch the new owner tow her away, wishing you didn’t sell it.

Enter the Internet! Wow! Should be much better now!

We had our first response within hours of posting a listing. They offered to purchase the boat, sight unseen, at the full price.

What a great advertisement writer I must be!

Enter the Scammers:

These are the actual emails we have received and how we’ve handled them.

I’ve bolded the warning signs.

On Tue, Jul 4, 2023 at 2:38 PM Mary

“I'm really interested in getting the boat for someone who stays around where you are. I live in Los Angele, California. We can start by looking at the present state and condition? I would also like to know your final price? and payment options too. I will be waiting to hear back from you.” (There are 42 photos in the ad and 200 videos on our Sailing Hideaway YouTube channel.)

Jul 8, 2023, 5:32 AM

“Am okay with the price for $9500. I will be making the payment via Cashier Check which will clear in your Bank in a day or two and once you have cash at hand. I will have a mover come over for the pick up, If you are OK with this, Do reply back with your Full Name, and Home Address, City, State & post code. Phone number too”

ME I’m preparing a “BILL OF SALE FOR A VESSEL” that requires the Name & Address of the Purchaser(s). Please send me the information as soon as possible. I’ll send the form to you via email as soon as I get that information.

Once you have signed the Bill of Sale & we receive the Cashier’s Check we can arrange for date & time of pick up.

Mary “Received the details for the payment. Pls consider it sold. I will facilitate the cashiers check payment to you, So a client of mine will issue the cashier's check in the name provided and will have it mailed out to you. However, the pick up & mover's fee will be included in your payment as I have other 3 properties to be moved along with what I am buying from you. As soon as your bank clears the check, you'll make the pick up money payable to my mover, movers will arrange appropriate time for pick up at your location. Is that ok?”

ME No. Our transaction is for the boat and trailer only. I do not want to be your agent to pay the mover. So, have the cashier's check made out for the agreed price.

I am attaching the Bill of Sale that needs the Purchaser's Signature and Address before we can set up a date & time for pickup. Please return it as soon as possible.

Then we will sign and date it only after the $9,500.00 is available in our account. Per our bank representative, that would be approximately 9-10 business days.

Mary Thanks for the information.

ME You did not return the bill of sale with your contact information. We do not have a deal. Do not send the check. Goodbye.

Here’s another

JOSH: Are you the owner? What’s the present condition and the final asking price

ME Yes good9500

Great, all looks lovely. I can have a check sent out for it from the office soonest as i'm currently out of town training new company recruits.(Great – more scammers!) i'm having someone coordinate the picking of my stuff at storage and can have them send someone to come pick this up on my behalf. Let me have a name and address for the check, your phone number and the final price, and please do take down the ad. The pickup will be scheduled for after you receive your funds

**** Another would “pay” us $100 to “take down the ad”. Yet another insisted we take it down.

SV Hideaway Off on a cruise

RAYMOND

Thanks for the quick response about the tent am buying from you,
any way the price is OK by me but i will like you to know that payment
will be made by check. If this mode of payment is OK by you.Kindly
send your information which you will like to receive the payment from
the post man, so that i can instruct my secretary to issue it
immediately

Name to be on check.....
Address where check will be received by you:.......
Phone Number's such as Mobile, Land line and Office number:....
Asking Price.........

Never mind about the pick up, it will be after you must have cleared
the payment from your Bank Account. Await your Quick Response so that
i can arrange for the payment immediately.

Thanks and Get back

ME I didn’t bother to respond, but really, what tent? The email is a template.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE: CHAD

Great!!! please consider it sold i am willing to pay your asking price because i need to buy it for my Dad asap, i have read through the advert ! and i'm totally satisfied with it, I'm presently out of town but I will ask my secretary to mail out a certified bank check to you if that's okay and I will arrange for my mover to pick it up once the check clears in your bank account.

Full Name:
Address:(NO P.O BOX because fedex don't deliver to PO BOX)
City: State: Zip:
Your cell Phone Number:
Last Asking Price:
Boat name & model for Ref purpose

Thanks and I hope we handle this in good faith while waiting to hearing from you

ME: You “hope” That you handle it in good faith?

Have you noticed that at the end of your email responses there are suggested replies?

The ones for Chad were: “Nice try.” “No, sorry” and “I sold it”. Even the algorithm picked up the scammer!

ME:

Chad - Nice try -- The answer is NO. We DO NOT have a deal.

Do us all a favor: Tell the others in your office to quit responding to my ads.

Magic Tilt Trailer- Sailing Hideaway Com Pac 23

---------------------------------------------

Looking for the Scam

Maybe, since we’ve bought and sold boats before, we are better informed of the process, or, maybe, we just got lucky with our skepticism.

Like most things in life, a good outcome is dependent upon doing things the right the first time.

We first realized a problem when the buyer did not seem to be interested in the required documents. Without a Bill of Sale, the boat and trailer cannot be licensed or resold.

Even the most expensive cameras cannot see as well as the human eye. We thought it odd that a buyer would not want to inspect the boat in person or send trusted friend. The scammers appeared to be out of state. We were concerned that once received, the boat would not be what the buyer expected.

Concerns About the Mover.

I required a Bill of Lading from one scammer and fortunately never heard back. A Bill of Lading requires the mover to sign a statement that all was well with the boat when picked up. The liability for damages in shipment would be on the mover. Agreeing to pay the mover out of the funds received would have made us partner to the scam and provided our bank information.

SV Hideaway Vanity Faucet

Common Ground-

Each scammer used the same basic format. Buying the boat for someone else – Grand ole Dad was most popular. None actually wrote the check. All used a “Mover” rather than a boat shipping company. None wanted to see the boat. One scammer, Raymond, doesn’t know a tent from a sailboat. Another didn’t know the spelling of the town she lived in. All were traveling and have secretaries, or a client in one case (!) to write the check. All had checks that includes funds for the seller to pay the mover. (Lights and sirens there!) None of them would provide new owner names and contact information for the bill of sale. Not one of them paid attention in English class. I’m not great a math – but this just doesn’t add up!

WHATS NEXT?

We know that a Cashier’s or Bank check is not a guarantee of secure payment. All of the scammers expect the payment to be processed in a couple of days. Our bank would only allow a few hundred dollars to be paid before the check cleared the out of state buyer’s bank, some 10 business days later.

Care to guess when the “mover” would “accidently” come to pick up? The seller could be pressured to write a personal check before the buyer’s check fully cleared. What are the odds, do you suppose, that the cashier’s check is good? The cost to ship a sailboat and trailer will be based on how gullible the scammer thinks you are, but certainly thousands of dollars.

Remember, once you turn your boat over to the mover you will never see it or the mover again. You’ll be out the full sales price plus the freight and your bank will probably want its advanced money back.

Stay safe!

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

White Sand Beach Desk Mat

by SailingHideAway on Zazzle

Spruce up your computer desk with a photo to make you smile.

Create your own design by adding a photo and text!

Sailing Hideaway Photograph Featured on Fine Art America

2023-08-06T15:20:00.001-04:00

One of my fine art photos has been featured on Fine Art America!

How cool is that??

SMALL BOATS ROCK!